Tuesday, 20th December

We stayed at Penkridge for three nights, whilst Trev was on his Boys' Weekend. We also spent some time with Trev's cousin Ann and her husband, Graham. Then it was up, up and away, and on our way. We went on along the Staffs & Worcs and moored near the junction with the Lichfield and Hatherton Canal.

Now you might think you've never heard of the Lichfield & Hatherton Canal, and you would be right. It fell into disuse years ago, but thanks to a band of enthusiasts, there is a strong movement to get it reopened, and parts of it are already being worked on. There is an aqueduct over the M6 which has nothing at the beginning or end, just an aqueduct in the air, all ready for the wonderful day when it's all reopened. David Suchet is one of the people working hard towards this end--he also owns a narrowboat.

Wednesday, 21st December
We set off around 11.00 and within five minutes had stopped again. Some BW men were chopping down trees, and they loaded wood on to our roof. Then on again for Autherley Junction. Here we turned right on to the Shropshire Union Canal. We shall travel forty miles north on the Shroppie, as far as Hurleston Junction, where we shall turn left on to the Llangollen Canal. As we went through Fordhouses, the northern tip of Wolverhampton, there were some gardens which stretched down to the canal, and there was a fox in one. He seemed quite unfazed by us.

We took on water at Autherley, not a very nice spot. The towpath is very muddy, there's a cill which sticks out in to the canal and catches the bottom of the boat, and the canal shop has the windows boarded up against vandals. We continued on towards Brewood--pronounced brood--and lo and behold, there was loads of wood on the bank, which had been left for scavengers such as ourselves. It was all in long pieces, and Trev will have plenty to occupy him when we moor up, as he saws it in to pieces which will fit in to our stove. Trev walked in to Brewood as there is a good butchers there, and came back with all sorts of goodies.

Although it was getting dusk, we moved on as we don't like the Brewood mooring. It's in a cutting and is very dark and gloomy. So we carried on, thinking we would soon find somewhere to moor. But we had to go on a couple of miles before we found somewhere to stop, just above Wheaton Aston lock. It was completely dark before we tied up. We moored by a boat called "Troy". Its owners have lived aboard for fourteen years--that's going some! I can't see me doing that long--I'll be on a zimmer frame by then!

Thursday, 22nd September
Trev was already up, but I was woken by a lot of shouting going on outside the boat. We never really found out what it was all about, there was some foul language and all sorts of macho threats. It appeared to be a difference of opinion between two boaters, one of whom was fed up by being woken up at 2.00 a.m. by something which went on! Whatever it was that happened at 2.00 a.m., we missed it!

Friday, 23rd December
Christmas is approaching, and we're delighted to be out of it all! We always get such kind invitations to spend it with friends, but fortunately they are not at all offended when we say we're happiest on our own at Christmas. Today we travelled to Market Drayton, and went through Tyrley Locks. This is such a pretty flight, cut out of the rock. Actually, to say we went 'through' Tyrley Locks is to gloss over one of my big mistakes! I have become blase about going in to narrow locks and usually sail in without touching the sides, despite the fact that there's only a couple of inches to spare each side. I EVEN get compliments from men on my expertise! And this, I think was my downfall. So confident was I that I sailed in to one of the Tyrley Locks in far too nonchalant a fashion, banged the boat on the side and broke the zip on the cratch cover. Oh dear! However, as Trev said it could have been worse........ Now we have to hold the cratch cover together with safety pins until we go through Braunston again, and can get to the canopy makers--which won't be until next Spring at the earliest.

On the bright side, the weather was wonderful today, glorious sunshine and everywhere looked so pretty. We moored up at Market Drayton, to get last minute supplies. The good thing about spending Christmas on our own on the boat is that we don't need to buy loads of food which sits around for ages and doesn't get eaten! This evening we went for a Chinese meal, which was a disappointment and a waste of money. It was quite tasteless and the staff weren't at all interested in serving us, only in taking our money.

Sunday, 25th December
We stayed at Market Drayton for two nights and moved on today. Happy Christmas everyone! We took on water and set off. Just as Trev was pulling away from the side, we suffered a loss of power. An inspection showed that the little bit which holds the gear box cable to the lever had broken. What a day for it to happen! Christmas Day--it couldn't have happened on a more inconvenient day. We belong to an organisation called River and Canal Rescue which is the "AA" of the waterways, and we could have called them out, but it didn't seem very fair, so Trev sprang in to action and, with a bit of string and coathanger wire, we could move on! We went on, very gingerly, and when we saw a nice mooring, we tied up. We had our Christmas dinner-- steak and chips!

Monday, 26th December
We both woke up late and had a leisurely day. We have to be in Nantwich by Thursday to pick up post from the Post Office. It's not far, so we aren't in a hurry. We set off to do the Adderley Flight, Trev steering, because of the emergency repair! Some people came along and helped us through the flight. They were boaters, though not on their boat at the moment, and so knew how it all worked. Thank you Di & Alan from the narrowboat "Kernowan". I hope we might be able to help you one day! We pulled in to moor at the bottom of the Adderley Flight. We hadn't travelled far--one mile and five locks, but it is Christmas! We need a rest!

Tuesday, 27th December
There was a lot of locks to do today, the Audlem Flight, thirteen locks. I had hoped we might see Roger, who helped us when we came along through the Audlem Flight last autumn. But there was no sign of him, so I had to do them all on my own--Trev told me that he had to steer because of the sensitive nature of the repair!!!!! We got through pretty quickly and moored up by the water point ready to fill up. But the water point was frozen up. I left the tap on for a few minutes, and after a while it flowed freely. We connected the hose pipe and turned it on--but nothing happened. The hose pipe was frozen! Last night was a very cold night, the hose pipe had been on the roof, and the water in the pipe was frozen. We brought it inside the boat and eventually it thawed and we could fill up.

Wednesday, 28th December
We wondered if we would be able to travel at all today, the canal was frozen over. But the ice was thin and another boat went through and broke the ice so we followed on. we had planned to stop at the charmingly named Coole Pilate moorings tonight, but the forecast was not promising and we didn't want to get frozen in in the middle of nowhere, so we decided to go straight on to Nantwich. The sun came out and it was a splendid day. There was quite a bit of warmth in the sun and we had a pleasant day's travelling. There were more boats out today which made it good to have chats with other people.

We drew in to Nantwich and there was plenty of mooring space. Trev went to Nantwich Canal Centre, and bought a new part for the throttle cable, and fitted it. So now we're in full working order again! He even bought a spare for the next time it happens. It grew cold later in the afternoon and we were glad we were moored up and cosy and warm.`

Thursday, 29th December
We stayed at Nantwich for two more nights, whilst we waited for our post to arrive. We would have moved on after the two nights, but the canal froze over and we didn't fancy cutting through the ice. We went for a meal at an Italian restaurant in Nantwich and had yet another disappointing experience. The food was mediochre and the service disinterested to say the least. We felt like a money machine--get 'em in and out as quick as possible and don't bother to speak! That's three meals out on the trot where we've been disappointed. Maybe we should just stop at home!

Saturday, 31st December
New Year's Eve. I'm always glad when the New Year starts. A new beginning, new journeys to make, new adventures to have. We moved on to Hurleston Junction, where we turned left on to the Llangollen Canal. The first obstacle is the Hurleston locks. There are four and I never seem to get through them without incident. This time, each time I went in to the locks, the gates kept opening behind me before Trev could let the water in, and the pound between two of the locks was so low I was grounded. Trev let some water down from the lock above and I refloated. At last, we got through them and were once again on the Golly, the best canal in the world! I love this part of the system, probably because my heart is really in the hills. I love hill country. We moored up at Burland, in a favourite spot, all on our own. We were treated to several local firework displays.

Sunday, 1st January, 2006
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY READERS!!!!!!!!
Today was a beautiful sunny day, with clear blue skies and so mild. In fact, the weather forecaster sad ti was warmer last night than it usually is in the daytime at this time of year. We had a good cruise today and travelled further than we had expected. We did two locks at Swanley, three at Baddiley and Marbury lock before mooring up on our own in the middle of nowhere. Each evening when we moor up, Trev chops up some wood, he's got an awful lot to get through! But it's keeping us warm for free. Someone said to us that wood keeps you warm twice, once when you saw it and once when you burn it!

Monday, 2nd January
Today we travelled to Whitchurch. The weather was wonderful again today. There was a frost last night, but the sun came out and it was beautiful. Trev got up early and sawed more wood. We went through Quoisley, Willeymoor and Povey's locks and then approached Grindley Brook. Here there are three separate locks and then three in a staircase. We went though the first lock where there was a couple of fishermen who, uncharacterirstically, were quite jovial and chatty, and who thanked us for stirring up the water as it encouraged the fish! However, this euphoria soon evaporated when we met the archetypal anglers at the next lock. They were fishing on the lock mooring, which is reserved for boats waiting for the lock, and their telegraph poles, sorry roach poles, stretched right across the towpath, meaning that I had either to wait until they deigned to move them, or climb over them. To add insult to injury, they asked if we could go more slowly as it was disturbing the fish! I pointed out to them that they were fishing on the lock mooring where they should not have been, but they told me they had a licence and could fish where they liked! Ah well.........

So we went on through the Grindley Brook staircase of three locks and moored up for water and a pump out. Then on again and we moored at Whitchurch. This is where we spent last Christmas. Lots of people came by walking their dogs, and most wanted to have a chat. There was one man with a Siberian Husky, it was a beautiful animal. We stayed here for two nights, to collect the post.

Wednesday, 4th January
The post arrived and we set off again, this time there were four lift bridges within a couple of miles, they are operated by a windlass. We moored up at Ellesmere and went for a bar snack at the Black Lion, a pub which has always provided an excellent meal before. And it did today, so at last we enjoyed a good meal out!

Thursday, 5th January
We had a long day today. Trev has decided he wants to get to Llangollen before we go off to Derbyshire for a few weeks! So we're on a roll. The weather was cold, sleet at times. We passed the junction with the Montgomery Canal and looked down wistfully, but it's closed until March. We hope we shall be able to do it before we leave the Llangollen in April. We continued on through lovely countryside to New Marton Locks. We went through the two locks, the last or first, locks on the Llangollen Canal. We moored a couple of hundred yards above the locks and Trev did yet more sawing!

Friday, 6th January
Another long day for Trevor, steering--he's determined to get to Llangollen! The weather was cold again, and damp and misty. We went over the Chirk Aqueduct and through Chirk Tunnel, then over the Pontcyssylte Aqueduct. It never fails to take our breath away, the very best bit of the whole canal system. We went on to Trevor basin and turned sharp left on to the last four miles of the canal, and the very best of all. The canal was very shallow and our progress got slower and slower. As well as very little water in it, there's quite a current as it's fed by the river Dee. It's one of the few places on the canal system which doesn't freeze, because of the current. Twelve million gallons a day flow through the Llangollen Canal to provide drinking water, but I'm not sure for whom.........

Saturday, 7th January
At last we arrived in Llangollen. It's lovely to come in to the mooring, we feel as though we're great explorers! It's a long journey and the most westerly point on the system. There were just two other boats moored up. There is free electricity here in the winter, which means we can put an electric fire on and do the washing with ease. Funny what little things give pleasure with our lifestyle! I wouldn't get excited in a house about switching on an electric fire! We're moored above the town and the view is very pretty, especially after a light fall of snow.

We shopped and browsed around the town, and in the evening we ate at The Corn Mill, a lovely restaurant overlooking the tumbling River Dee. We shall stay here for two nights, and then slowly make our way back down the Llangollen to put the boat in to a marina whilst we go to The Peak District for a break. Well, we don't want to get too stressed out! Then, if the NHS can find a bed for my friend Malcolm, I shall be looking after him when he comes out of hospital. So there probably won't be any postings here until March. But do come back then!

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